Easter
Marillion, 1989, from Seasons End. Solo by Steve Rothery.
Steve Rothery's solo on this gentle, folk-tinged ballad is a lesson in melodic patience. After quiet verses, he steps in with a clean, sustaining Stratocaster tone, building long, singing phrases that rise slowly toward a peak instead of rushing there. The notes are given room to breathe, and his vibrato lends each line a vocal quality. It's often cited as one of his finest moments and a highlight of Marillion's first album with Steve Hogarth. Rothery shows how much emotion can live in a handful of well-chosen notes. Listen for how the final phrases hold on high, sustained notes, letting the song's hopeful mood linger after the band falls away.
Easter by Marillion is ranked #141 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Steve Rothery and the song was released in 1989. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #26 (Planet Rock).
In our lists
- One and Only — #20
- The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #14
- The 1980s — #25
- Ballad Solos — #20
- Hidden Gems — #21
- The Best Marillion Guitar Solos — #1
Sources
- Planet Rock: The Top 40 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever — #26
- Planet Rock: The 75 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #34
- guitarguitar: Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time — #43
Who played the guitar solo on Easter?
Steve Rothery played the solo on Marillion's Easter (1989).
What guitar was used on the Easter solo?
A squier stratocaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Easter rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#141 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 3 of them.